Snow or no snow, Great Works Regional Land Trust offers winter hikes on several of its properties, some of which are accessible only when the ground is frozen. Pick up your skis, snowshoes, winter boots (hopefully not mud boots!) and join Great Works Regional Land Trust for a weekend morning hike at a treasured place.

Great Work’s Tuckahoe Preserve in Berwick is once again on the list.

Scheduled for Saturday, January 26th, the 108 acres between Hubbard Road and the Salmon Falls River offer a level easy glide for ski touring as well as an opportunity to explore the forested river bank. Berwick board member Michael Wright will lead.

Grant’s Meadow on Beaver Dam Heath in Berwick/North Berwick is the site of two winter excursions. New this year is a Baby & Tot Walk for families with young children on Saturday, Feb. 2 (weather date Feb. 3). Strap your baby on your back and bring your toddlers to explore the new loop at Grants Meadow with board member Annie Cox. The trail should be packed down well enough to not need snowshoes. Hot chocolate will be provided to enjoy at the end!

Click image to enlarge

Courtesy photo
Winter hiking on Great Works Regional Land Trust properties.

On Saturday, Feb. 16 (weather date Feb. 17), 10 am – noon, board member Michael Wright will lead a snowshoe or ski trek out on the frozen heath, conditions permitting. Beaver Dam Heath is a special, isolated place and winter is really the only time of year to venture far out on the wetlands.

If frozen solid, the “Wonders of Tatnic” draw hikers out on the beaver marsh of Orris Falls Conservation Area in South Berwick, providing open views that can’t be had the rest of the year. Scheduled for Feb. 2, 9 am – noon, visit the Big Bump, Orris Falls, and conditions permitting, Baker’s Oven. As time and interest allow, the excursion will also include a visits to Balancing Rock and Tatnic Ledges. Board president Tin Smith of Wells will lead.

Snow conditions permitting, Great Works Regional Land Trust will join with Kittery Land Trust to lead ski and snowshoe tours at Rustlewood Farm (on the Kittery/Eliot line), which the land trusts are working together to conserve. Scheduled for February 9th, time to be announced.

Space on hikes is limited to 25 people. Please call the Great Works office at 207-646-3604 to reserve your place. Anyone interested in joining any of these hikes is encouraged to visit the Great Works Regional Land Trust website www.gwrlt.org or call the office for more information, confirmation of the hike status and last minute suggestions for footwear. All hikes are open to the public and free of charge to Land Trust members. A $5 donation per person or $10 donation per family is suggested for non-members.

Great Works Regional Land Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1986 to provide conservation options to the landowners of Eliot, South Berwick, Berwick, North Berwick, Wells & Ogunquit. Call 207-646-3604, email info@gwrlt.org or visit www.gwrlt.org to register and for more information. Reservations requested. Free to members, $5 suggested donation for non-members. Confirm conditions and suggested footwear prior to hikes.

Calendar listings:

— January 20, Sunday, 10 am – noon

Hike to the striking ledges and varied terrain of the 100-acre Kenyon Hill preserve off of Ogunquit Road in South Berwick.

January 26, Saturday, 10 am – noon

Ski/Snowshoe – Tuckahoe Preserve, Berwick –

Located on Hubbard Road, approximately 4.3 miles north of Berwick center, this is a 108-acre “Forever Wild” preserve located along the Salmon Falls River. (Foul weather date Jan 27, Sunday)

— February 2, Saturday, 9 am - noon

Explore 4 of the 7 ‘Wonders of Tatnic’ - The Tatnic region of Wells, South Berwick and Ogunquit has a unique geology and natural history that has resulted in unusual features such as Baker’s Oven (accessible only when the marsh is frozen) that have been the subject of much folklore. If time permits, the group will also visit a 5th ‘Wonder of Tatnic’, Balancing Rock. Snowshoes are suggested but not required.

— February 2, Saturday, 10 am - noon

Baby and Tot Walk at Grants Meadow on Beaver Dam Heath

Strap your baby on your back and bring your toddlers to explore the new loop at Grants Meadow with board member Annie Cox. The trail should be packed down well enough to not need snowshoes. Hot chocolate will be provided to enjoy at the end!